Page 64 of Dirty Rival

“You are worth your money, Royce Walker.”

“Remember that when I raise your rates. I’ll be in touch.” He disconnects and my head starts to throb, as in literally, the way it used to when I was recovering from yet another too hard hit when I played football in school. I ignore the pressure at the back of my head and dial Connie and arrange to have the whiskey delivered with a note I custom dictate. By the time I’m done, the car pulls to the Maxwell offices. I enter the building, with one goal in mind: get my fucking brother off my ass. I enter the executive offices and ignore his secretary, Lulu, a thirty-something redhead with an attitude, and I do so based on principle. I don’t like any attitude that isn’t Carrie’s, and who the fuck is named Lulu anyway?

Gabe’s door is open and I walk into his office to find him on the phone. I shut the door as he glances up and eyes me. “Yes, father. I know, father. I know. You told me that three times.” He glances at the receiver and hangs up.

“What the hell is the crisis?” I demand, crossing to his desk and sitting down on one of the burgundy visitor’s chairs.

“Our father is the problem,” he says. “That’s call number three. He feels you’ve undone the effect of the debt payment between him and West. He threatened to walk away from the consulting job he’s doing in Europe and return home.”

My jaw clenches. “You mean because of Carrie.”

“Exactly.”

“I only got involved because of his fucking stroke and the state he and our dear uncle left our reputation in the first place. And I made a deal with West and our father. They get out of town. This wasn’t Carrie’s debt or ours and yet we’re the ones paying for it.”

“Her father tried to make it ours,” Gabe reminds me. “You know that.”

“They both did and they failed. I didn’t let them make this about the younger generation of our families. I won’t let them. This isn’t our war. I thought you agreed.”

“I do,” he says. “Just making sure I know where we stand. I thought maybe Carrie had become a weapon for you.”

“No.”

“That’s a short answer. What’s the story here on you and Carrie? The real story?”

I rub the back of my neck and look at him, my brother, who outside of what is blooming with Carrie, is the only person I actually trust in this world. “I don’t know,” I answer honestly.

He leans forward. “I don’t remember ever hearing you say those words.”

“Because I don’t say those words,” I bite out.

“Are you sure she’s not the enemy?”

“Yes,” I say. “I am.” I scrub my jaw. “If she was, it wouldn’t matter though. I’d turn her.”

He studies me a few beats. “I get it,” he finally says. “More than you know. The question is, does she know about the debt?”

“Hell no. You know we have a gag order. You know what’s on the line if this leaks and she’d confront her father if I told her.”

“Of course, she would. I sure the fuck would.”

“And honestly, man. As much as not telling her is killing me, I think of mom’s letter. I think of how much I didn’t want to know what I know. Carrie is a good person, too good for me. I don’t want her to go through the awakening I did.”

“But you’re glad you did. I know I sure the hell am.”

“I needed to get my shit together. She doesn’t.”

“Her father will always hold this secret over you.”

“And ultimately he’ll use it and she’ll hate me. I know, but what the fuck am I supposed to do, Gabe?” My cellphone rings and my jaw clenches. I grab it and look at the number, standing up and walking to Gabe’s window as I answer, “Yes, Mr. District Attorney. I’m going to break a rule and say please, do not make another insulting offer.”

“Three o’clock. My office. My final offer.”

“Tell me now.”

“No,” he says, and hangs up.

Gabe steps to my side. “No deal?”